Device for indicating variations in synchronous running of kinematographs and gramophones.



' F. A. THOMASSIN. DEVICE FOR INDIGATING VARIATIONS IN SYNCHRONOUSRUNNING OF KINEMATOGRAPHS AND GRAMOPHONES.

APPLICATION Him) APR.12, 1909. 1 01,091 I Patented Aug. 22, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Fig.1

P. A. THOMASSIN. DEVIGE FOR INDIGATING VARIATIONS IN SYNGHRONOUS RUNNINGOF KINEMATOGRAPHS AND GRAMOPHONES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.12, 1909.

1,001,091, Patented Augx22, 1911.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANGISALEX A'NDER THOMASSIN OF STBEATHAM, ENGLAND.

DEVICE FOR IRDICATING VARIATIONS IN SYNCHBONOUS RUNNING OF KINEHATO-GRAPES AND GRAMQPHONES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 22, 1911.

Application filed April 12, 1909. Serial No. 489,385.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS ALEXANDER THQMASSIN, a-subject of theKing'of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at 20 Glen Eagle road,Streatham, Surrey, England, have invented a Device for IndicatingVariations in Synchronous Running of Kinematbgraphs and Gramophones, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new or imroved indicating method and devicewherey the operator of a kinematograph apparatus is enabled to maintainthe movement of such apparatus, at a speed which shall have a constantratio to the speed of a gramophone or other sound reproducing apparatusmoving simultaneously but at a distance from said kinematograph.

The object of my invention is to provide a method and means of socontrolling the movements of a single hand, disk, or other suitableindicator, that such movements may correctly represent the variationsfrom synchronism between a 'kinema ograph and gramophone workingsimultaneously, but independently and at a distance from eachother andconsequently to enable the operator of either or both-of suchkinematograph and gramophone to so adjust and maintain the speed of saidapparatus-that synchronous working of the two may be secured.

By my invention as hereinafter more particularly described I impart amovement electrically controlled by the gramophone to an indicatinghandand at the same time I rotate the entire electrical mechanism in acontrary direction to that in which said electrical mechanism is movingthe indicating hand. This rotation of the entire electrical mechanism issecured by gearing connected direct'to the kinematograph mechanism or itmay be produced by means of electrically operated gearing in electricalconnection with the kinematograph. It will be apparent that when thegramophone and kinematograph are both moving at the designed relativespeeds to each other, the movement imparted to the hand the gramophonecontrolled mechanism wil be equal to that given to it in a contrarydirection by the kinemato aph controlled portion of the device and 1nconsequence no movement of the indicating hand will take lace. If on theother hand one 'or other of the two instruments (kinematograph andgramophone) are working too fast or too slow this variation fromsynchronism will at once be shown by a movement either to the right orleft of the central or synchronous point and the amount of such movementwill correctly 60 give the number of revolutions necessary to againestablish synchronism.

I am aware that the idea of a gramophone and kinematograph electricallyor mechanically controlling a hand or hands upon a 5 dial for thispurpose is not new but in my invention as herein described I secure adifferentiated control of a single band by an entirely new method andmeans.

A form of apparatus which maybe employed for this invention isillustrated the accompanying drawings.

Fi ure 1 represents a plan of the indicating evice and also of theconnections to the gramophone and kinematograph of which 12 and 13 onthe shafts are represented diagrammatically. Fig. 2 represents verticalsection through thedevice and Fig. 3 represents plan of the movingcontact rings eniployed to'keep constant electrical connection betweenthe electrical movement and the gramophone.

I will now proceed to describe the-construction of this indicatingapparatus by aid of the drawings throughout all of which the samenumerals apply to the same parts.

The shaft of the gramophone 12 is fitted with a commutator or multiplecontact 14.- and when revolving it alternately closes and breaks (X theelectrical circuit between the brushes 15 and 16. Current is supplied tothis circuit from the battery '17 and'electrical connection between thegramophone and indicator is secured by the wires 18 and 19. I Theindicator consists of an outer case 21 9 inwhich is fitted an electricalescapement movement constructed upon and supported by the rotating disk22 and its shaft 23. Said electrical escapement when actuated byelectricity supplied intermittentlythrough 1 the movements of thegram0phone-imperts a movement to the indicating hand 7 The escapementmovement consists of 'an electromagnet 1 which intermittently attractsthe armature 2 and imparts a movement to the 1 wheel 6 through the pawl3. The spring 5 actuates the pawl directly the armature 2 is released bythe electro-magnet 1. The indicating hand 7 is fixed to the splitbush 24and has a frictional fit to the shaft 25 of the bridge 20 and insulatedtherefrom are two escapement wheel 6. The disk 22 which 1 supports theelectrical movement is fitted with a shaft 23. Shaft 23 rotates in bearings fitted in the bridge shaped piece 20 and is supported on the end bythe bearing31 on i the baseplate 30. T o the shaft 23 is rigidly fixed aworm wheel 26 driven by the worm 27. 1 form 27 is supported by bearings28, 29, and at one end of worm 27 is fitted a chain l sprocket 32 towhich is attached a chain 33 5 driven by another sprocket 31 fixed tothe kineimttograph shaft 13. 7

To the underside of disk 22 is fixed a wide ring of insulating material35 and upon this. insulating ring are fitted two metal rings 36, 37insulated from each other and also from the disk 22. Ring 36 iselectrically connected by wire to one end of the electro-magnet coil 1and ring 37 is connected in a similar manner to the other end ofelectro-magnet coil 1. Fitted to the brushes 38, 39 said brushesindividually maintaining a constant contact with the contact rings 37,and 36 respectively. The. brushes 38, 39, are directly connected bymeans of terminals to the line wires 18 and 19. The object of the rings36 and 37 and the brushes 38 and 39 is to provide a means whereby theelectro-magnet 1 may be kept in constant electrical connection with theline wires 18 and 19 although the entire magnet 1 is being rotated withthe disk 22 on its axis 23.

Fig. 3 represents the underside of disk 22 and shows the position of theinsulating ring 35 with the metal contact rings 36 and 37 attachedthereto. A and B are two holes passing through 35 and 22 through whichthe two ends of the coil 1 are passed before connecting them to thecontact rings 36 and 37.

The electrical contact arrangements shown in the drawings and hereindescribed both as regards connection on gramophone shaft and also thosefor maintaining continuous electric connection between the electromagnetand the line wires are open to large alteration or modification as thenecessity may arise without departing from the scope of this invention.

In certain cases and where it is necessary to use my invention underconditions in which the movements of an indicating hand cannot readilybe seen by the operator of the apparatus I may prefer to make thegraduated dial of semi-translucent material and illumine same frombehind or I may dispense with a hand and dial and employ, instead anindicator composed of 2 or more colored disks connected to an armattached to shaft 25 and operating before an opening in the case 21 ofthe apparatus and having an illuminant behind them.

The apparatus hereinbefore described works as follows :The movement ofthe gramophone shaft 12 automatically transmits intermittent electricalexcitation to the electro-magnet, and consequently to the armature 2,the pawl 3, the wheel 6, and the hand 7. This movement. will be indirect proportion to the speed of the gramophone and will be in thedirection of the arrow shown on wheel 6. The simultaneously revolvingkinematograph shaft 13 will at the same time transmit a movement to theworm wheel 26 and shaft 23 by means of the chain 33 and the gearingshown in the drawing. The movement of the shaft 23 thus produced andcontrolled by the rotation of the kinematograph shaft 13 will be in thedirection of the arrow on wheel 26 or in a direction contrary to thatimparted to the indicating hand 7 by the rotation of the gramophoneshaft 12. It will be apparent that the movement given to the electricalescapement supported by disk 22 and shaft 23 will also be imparted tothe indicating needle 7 also in the same direction and at the samespeeds. It follows therefore that as the gramophone imparts a motion tothe indicator 7 in one direction and the kinematograph actuates theneedle 7 in exactly the reverse direction no apparent movement of theindicating hand will take place when the two instruments are working insynchronism but directly synchronous running is broken the amount anddirection of such variation will be indicated by the needle upon thesuitably graduated dial D. The operator therefore is provided by thisinvention with a new means of instantly indicating the movements of twoindependently moving mechanisms and is enabled to maintain the speed ofsaid apparatus such that synchronous running may be continuous.

The indicator described above may be used in the production ofsynchronized films and records as well as in reproducing said films andrecords.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An apparatusfor indicating the synchronous running of a kinematograph and agramophone, comprising a fixed dial, an indicator revoluble relativelythereto, an electrically operated mechanism electrically connected withthe gramophone and me chanicallyconnected with said indicator to rotateit in one direction, a shaft supporting said mechanism and operable torotate said mechanism, gearing connected to said shaft and to akinematograph for rotating said electrically operated mechanism in adirection contrary to that in which said mechanism rotates saidindicator.

2. In an apparatus for indicating the synchronous operation ofkinematographs and talking machines, the combination with continuouselectrical connection with said 10 an indicating needle, of anelectrically opermoving electrically operated mechanism. ated mechanismhaving a shaft connected i In testimony whereof I have affixed my withsaid needle for rotatin t it in one direcsignature, in presence ofwitnesses.

tion, means for rotating sai electrically op- FRANCIS ALEXANDERTHOMASSIN. erated mechanism in a directioncontrary to \Vitiiesses:

the direction of rotation imparted by said I ALFRED NU'rnNo,

electrically operated mechanism to said C. P. LnmoN,

needle, and means operable to maintain a CLARENQE PERCY LIDDON.

